INSPIRE Program

Call For Proposals

The Ostrom Workshop is pleased to issue a call for applications for our new and improved initiative, the Interdisciplinary Network Supporting Progress in Research Excellence (INSPIRE) Program. The goal of INSPIRE is to bring interested and committed faculty and students together to facilitate and support the development of transformative, interdisciplinary research proposals to be submitted for external funding. Specifically, we will provide up to $10,000 to support groups of 1-4 faculty members working together regularly in the Workshop space to develop innovative grant proposals with the support of a dedicated grants specialist, mentorship from Ostrom Program Directors, and the potential involvement of an Ostrom postdoc or other IU students. Upon completion of an INSPIRE fellowship, project teams must have a drafted a grant proposal or white paper submission, which they will present to the Workshop community for input. The Workshop’s goal for this initiative is to help support impactful, interdisciplinary research teams tackling complex, real-world problems using novel approaches and methodologies, while also helping to mentor and support interested students with the training they need to be successful with their own funding submissions.

Resources

The Workshop will provide up to $10,000 per INSPIRE Project Team. Funding can be used for a combination of the following expenses: a) up to $5,000 stipend for the PI(s), b) support for graduate or undergraduate students to aid in the preparation of the grant, or c) end-stage project development costs (such as final stages of proof of concept), including if applicable travel support to participate in relevant funding agency events. The Workshop will provide space for regular meetings, grant proposal development services, implementation, dispersal and accounting support, along with planning timelines to ensure timely completing of all deliverables. Supported interdisciplinary teams are not required to run resulting grant proposals through the Workshop, though if the proposal makes use of Workshop staff, resources, and facilities a corresponding portion of ICR of the grant if awarded should flow to the Workshop to cover these expenses in keeping with IU’s formula for CIMs. The Workshop will work with Schools and Departments regarding the distribution of Indirect Costs upon submission of the grant.

Selection Criteria

• Approval from Department Chair and Dean to participate
• Project Teams must include at least one IU TT faculty member who is an affiliate of the Workshop
• Research must fall broadly within Workshop themes, which includes governance, trust, and institutional analysis, and/or the IU2030 priorities for interdisciplinary research in social sciences
• Project Teams should be IU based, but can include partners from other U.S. institutions (though doctoral students must be at IU-Bloomington).

Application Components

• Project Title, Abstract (150 words), Personnel, External Funding Agency target and specific grant opportunity (e.g., funding opportunity number)
• Project Overview (500-1000 words)
  • Research question
  • Methodological approach
  • Intellectual Contribution
  • Relevance to Ostrom theme (see Selection Criteria) and demonstration of interdisciplinarity
• Proposed Budget (including proof of concept component if applicable)
• CVs of Project Team (faculty members)
• Signed Form of Agreement from School Dean

Deliverables

• Draft grant proposal prepared for submission
• Presentation of grant proposal to Workshop faculty and affiliates

For questions, please contact Jess Steinberg (steinbjf@iu.edu).

APPLY HERE

FAQs

Is the funding only available for one semester?

The funding is initially available for one semester. However, funding agency deadlines vary, and we will work with you to ensure you are able to access and use awarded funding up until the submission of your grant application.

What do you mean by ‘white paper’?

It is the draft document often required for submission to a funding agency before the formal grant is submitted (not a policy note).

What if I have a specific graduate student I’d like to work with on this project?

Great, you may work with a graduate student of your choosing, so long as they are an advanced PhD candidate.

What if my project involves faculty from outside IU?

You may include external faculty, so long as the PI is faculty at IU. Doctoral students must be at IU.

Is this opportunity open to faculty of all ranks?

It is open to all tenured and tenure-track faculty pursuing interdisciplinary research on a subject that relates to the Ostrom workshop.